Character Analysis Paul's Case

Paul’s Case - Paul

“It was Paul’s afternoon to appear before the faculty of the Pittsburg High School to account for his various misdemeanors” This is just the beginning of the life of Paul and how he behaves. The first view of what his character is life, and insight of his personalities. While reading the story Paul’s Case by, Willa Cather, who is an American writer who has twelve novels, there was a connection gained about the characters involved in the story, primarily Paul, the main character. Paul is a very interesting character in the story, he struggles in many different scenarios. This was a story that some may find confusing and hard to understand, which is true but you can see the values and traits within Paul when reading through

the story. “Paul is very tall for his age and very thin, cramped shoulders and a narrow chest” There are three important traits when you consider who the character Paul; fear, passion, and family. Throughout this essay, there will be evidence shown how each of these traits have built Paul in the character it is that he plays.
During the reading you also start to feel some issues arise throughout his family life, even though family is not brought up many times throughout the story, but there are some in the ending I want to discuss.

After Paul was happy and living his life through the love of music, theater and art. The ending quote that states, “Then, because the picture-making mechanism was crushed, the disturbing visions flashed into black, and Paul dropped back into the immense design of things.” The ending statement of this proved the struggles Paul had with this family, primary his father. A few paragraphs before Paul had gotten word about his father being back in New York for something, and after hearing those words, it causes Paul so much discomfort and ending the story wondering if Paul was going to end up

alright.
In the beginning coming from the quote used in the beginning, Paul has had some struggles in school and he had been brought upon a situation where he had to meet with the school board about his behavior. He had a problem with lying, disorder, and impertinence character traits. “Paul started back with a shudder, and thrust his hands violently behind him.” This is where fear one opens up to the readers about Paul. Paul is nervous, he struggles with having people near him and around him, thinking he will make a mistake. His shrugs and no responses, show he is scared of having a bad self-image, which is fear two of Paul. “I don’t know, he replies. I didn’t mean to be polite or impolite, either. I guess it’s a sort of way I have of saying things, regardless.” This shows he struggles with standing up for himself as well because he could have grown up not understanding how to. Paul was actually born only a few months before his mother had passed, which according the story was the reason some issues Paul had. This could be his explanation to having struggle with a bad self-image.
Art, theatre, and music brings out the best in Paul.

Paul may have struggles in school and showed his fears, and made himself have a bad image, but that changes. Paul was an usher at Carnegie Hall, where he would rather stay there and hang out than go home. This showed how happy he was there. It stated he “... excitedly, to tumble into his uniform” he was happy to start his job, you can even tell that he wants to play, because he admires the instruments in the music-room as changing. He truly has a passion and this shows through the wonderful job he presents at the Hall. He was about to do his job best, “He was a model usher; gracious and smiling” shows evidence of him loving this job. When he hears or sees the performances, he dances on the inside, the true him, because in school where he’s unhappy, he creates trouble in school, but here he can finally be himself. While you read the sections about art and music, the author used more gracious and warm tones, or words when

speaking.
In the end, Paul’s fears, passion, and family have all played a positive yet also negative role in his life. The story, Paul’s Case by Willa Cather is a story that shows the struggles of a boy and how his life and what he is made of helps him go on with life. Willa Cather did a wonderful job in bringing out the true emotions and feelings of a character throughout the story of Paul’s Case: a Study in Temperament.